EMU professor is Michigan's first Society of Human Resource Management student chapter adviser of the year

YPSILANTI - Fraya Wagner-Marsh, professor and head of the management department at Eastern Michigan University's College of Business, was named the Ninth Annual Student Chapter Adviser of the Year by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Foundation.

Fraya Wagner-Marsh

Wagner-Marsh, a resident of Canton and the first Michigan student adviser selected for this award, received a plaque and $1,000 June 18 at the annual student conference in San Diego, Calif.

"I was thrilled to receive the honor, especially since my students nominated me," said Wagner-Marsh. "I know the high quality of the eight previous winners, so I am honored to be selected,"

"She's just the best," said Kate Aken, past student chapter secretary. " Fraya's commitment to students is genuine, and she is a great asset to our chapter's membership."

"She is always willing to take time to help me make decisions and develop suggestions for the future," said nominator Erin Hoffman, SHRM student chapter president.

"Fraya is tireless in her commitment to the SHRM chapter. After her normal workday as department head, she is often meeting and working with students. It's inspiring to see how much she cares for students and the impact she has on them," said Rick Camp, professor in EMU's management department. "This honor brings national recognition to our department's program in human resources."

She was chosen from 430 active student chapter advisers eligible for the award. Judges cited the leadership and inspiration she has provided the student chapter.

The award is based on length of service to the chapter, merit award history, development of student leaders, innovative programs offered, obstacles overcome, involvement with other SHRM activities, percentage of members taking certification exam, percentage of national members and consistency of chapter quality.

Wagner-Marsh has been with EMU since 1982. During her 10 years (1995-2005) as the SHRM adviser, the EMU chapter won the Superior Merit Award every year from SHRM.

The EMU chapter participates annually in the HR Games, a statewide human resources "Jeopardy-style" student competition that pits schools against one another with categories like recruiting, training, job descriptions and benefits. Human resource professionals are the judges for the students who are preparing for their professional human resource certification.

Under her leadership, student teams in 2003 and 2005 have taken top state honors and have progressed to regional and national competitions .

"SHRM allows students to build on their knowledge of the human resource field while helping them develop valuable leadership and organizational skills," she said.

Wagner-Marsh serves as director of the Michigan State Council of SHRM and is an active member of the Greater Ann Arbor SHRM chapter and the Human Resources Association of Greater Detroit. She serves as co-director of her department's master of science in human resource and organizational development program, and coordinator of the department's cooperative education and internship programs.

Her EMU awards include Outstanding Service Award from the EMU College of Business, the COB Faculty Achievement Award, the Faculty Merit Award for Service and the Faculty Appreciation Award.

Wagner-Marsh received her doctorate in business administration (management) from the University of Memphis in 1981. She serves as an HR consultant and trainer for a variety of companies in the Southeastern Michigan region.

Wagner-Marsh co-authored "The Student Chapter Toolkit: A Guide to Working with SHRM Student Chapters."

She has published in the Journal of Organizational Change Management, the Journal of Management Systems, the Journal of Business and Economic Perspectives and Mobility.

Eastern Michigan University is a public, comprehensive university that offers programs in the arts, sciences and professions. EMU prepares students with the intellectual skills and practical experiences to succeed in their careers and lives, and to be better citizens.

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Eastern Michigan University is a public, comprehensive
university that offers programs in the arts, sciences and professions.
EMU prepares students with the intellectual skills and practical experiences
to succeed in their career and lives, and to be better citizens.